clearly the excuses are starting already, too much use by me of the word can't - but maybe I do need to focus on what I want out of this and also how am I going to get there. why shouldn't I get a coach, although the ones I have found on the internet maybe aren't looking to get this mum doing an olympic/long distance triathlon. maybe I do need to join a club, even if it is a bit of a trek. maybe it is going to be tough managing this on my own.

swimming - purchased my own kick board and pull buoy will make my own swim session more effective, rather than just swimming.

targeting a spin class on tuesday

running - interval training for speed.

ps xmas list is set up - multisports gps with HRM on the list as well as cadence thingy too. well i feel i need the tek to take this forward.!

still a little bit lost in translation but getting there.]]>
actually the writing is very encouraging, and there is an underlying feeling of key positive words that seem purposely used to try and enter your subconscious! There is a huge element in me about changing my mentality and the thought process to the can do to i can't because!

really I am torn between extending my distances and/or concentrating on the sprint events. Actually I am heading towards sticking with sprints and aiming for speed targets, basically due to my time restrictions.

I was very luck to be in my adult masters swimming lessons when the lady who came second in my local tri came for lessons too! turns out she has just finished 7th in the world age group champs in canada - week later there was an article in the paper and it was inspiring to think that someone with children and a full time job has achieved what she has done in actually only 2 years in triathlon. admittedly she has a running background and I don't expect Ill reach those dizzy heights but it does give me food for the future.

got ideas for next year, there is a new duathlon in my next village in April - looks quite tough for me but training programme comes out in January.

battle on!]]>
then

PMT!!! day before triathlon didn't feel quite right and out of sorts. terrible nights sleep just far too hot!!! woke up feeling crap. everybody was annoying me and getting in my way. the lady in my wave who would not shut up before the start line about how many triathlons she'd done - but none in the pool, hadn't ever swum without a wetsuit blah blah blah. the marshals who couldn't decide whether i should be in the water or not in the water, then shouted at me for not being in the water and telling me time had started. swum was terrible. sank like a stone and went backwards. so disappointed after all I had spent most of my time working on my swimming and nerves and panic got the better of me. i think I was last or second last out of my wave to exit, and ended up a minute and a half behind my target time - hopeless and worse then when i swum alternative front crawl and breaststroke.

onto the bike. spent an hour shouting at myself for being crap! it was a long hour. actually an hour and 7 mins which i was really pleased with (eventually) as I was faster than my target time of 1hr 15. PMT does really stupid things to your brain and your self confidence and one a small part of me had sense which was to say look at your watch you dumbo you are doing fine. it is hard though when loads of people overtake you if your brain is not mentally on it you will be tough on yourself. i didn't even see the camera man and look really cross on the photos.

it was a long way from dismounting from the bike to transition. but actually ran really well and was really pleased. an out and back route and lots of numbers around so brain couldn't play any silly games with me. did 6250 km in an annoying time of 40mins 16 seconds. although i was conscious of my ability to run annoying times i really had nothing left at the end, which is always a good way to finish. i have a habit of doing annoying times but I was really pleased to be under 10min/mile pace.

a great day and pleased to have avoided the bottom 10 again!!

total time another annoying time of 2hr 05mins, well thats a target to aim for at next years!

got the post event blues, especially now the weather has changed. don't know what to do next, but I know I have some unfinished business with the swimming, and will keep that up, as well as my fortnightly session with the running club.

thats my physical challenges done for the year, achieved great steps in my own challenges, but admit these are only tiny footsteps in the world of triathlons.]]> well it was a good week and weekend. nice hour interval session with the running club, great for me to try and find some speed in my legs (not something i naturally have!!) fab bike ride on saturday where i cajoled my hubby and daughter to spend a couple of hours riding the bike route with me - they were in the car! great to know the course is not easy, but easier than the one i have been training on!! and finished with a good swim on sunday.

Will probably rest up this week, swim lesson on thursday just to recap on main technique. oh and my new tri shorts have arrived. what a revelation, although the padding is slightly minimal sure to cover me on the 17 mile route.
bring it on!!!]]> 1) a dismal bike ride where legs seemed to have stayed at home
2) discussions post swim lessons with other people who have entered. you know the i'll do the bike ride in 50 mins, i'll do the swim in x mins, i'll finish in x time.

Its hard to get caught up in these and I try and stay away from them if i can, as I know I will be at the bottom end of the finish times towards the end and I'm trying to do MY race at MY pace but somehow these conversations combined with a bad training day often make me feel like i am not good enough.
i did have a great swim on sunday and did 30 lengths, the most I have ever done in one session!! and I did have a great run earlier on in the week 5 miles in 50mins. I really need to focus on my own confidence in the run up to the event, its just i'm worried the bike will kill me!!
I am aiming to cycle the course next weekend which I think will help greatly. I am looking forward to the run as it is an out and back route which i like.
ordered some tri shorts which will give me a boost - new sports clothing always does!! as i realise i need the padding this time on the cycle, i did without last time and i can't run in my cycle shorts, well thats my excuse anyway.]]> then got completely stressed out on monday, missed out on swimming as i felt crap before, so i didn't go, and felt crap after because i didn't go!

onwards to tuesday. straight from holiday club to daughters friends house for tea. forgot about pre arranged running with neighbour. quick text to apologise and returned home knackered and stressed again.

wednesday back to school. small cheer!!! routine routine routine! still felt exhausted and stressed.

made running club on thursday which was fantastic and really great. great bunch and friendly etc etc etc. in reality i was pushing it going swimming after as i got really bad cramp in leg and went home early a bit disappointed. but it was warm that day and i had loaded a tonne of logs into the wood shed so probably overdid it a bit.

swimming sunday as lessons start for my daughter so me and hubby go and do some lane swimming. it was busy but a good test it might be like that at the tri.

which brings us to monday today and trying to fit in something in between tea, bedtime a dance class drop off for daughter!! happy days.

got some iron tablets at the weekend, as feeling quite run down and lacking in energy. hope they help!]]>
sadly didn't make the jogging club meeting/training childcare issues again! it was sunny too doh!

and in other stuff
left hubby to order school clothes and the wrong colour trousers have come which need sorting. also name tags in all other of miss macs new clothes, which due to growth spurt is everything!!
we are all looking forward to back to school and a routine. i am fed up of the drive to holiday club (we live next to the school) .

this week is summarised by lost training opportunities mixed with great swimming progress.]]>
something good is going on must be training


didn't make running last night but OH had rubbish day at the desk so I was in charge of childcare. C'est la vie.]]> pleased though i broke the duck and was starting to get into my stride.

failed to get out on bike. nil points for me. should have gone sunday. but reading a recent self help book suggests removing the phrase "should have" completely. instead rephrase. I chose not to go cycling and instead had a family day out.

swimming monday. ten out of ten for me. not sure whats more nerve-racking. a swim session with a full pool or a swim session where the pool is empty. well me and one other lady. really pleased with my swimming as i seemed to have remembered most of thursdays instruction. Swum the required 16 lengths for the next event, and put another 10 lengths on top of that. progress. …… huge progress.
ok so i'm still slow. the lady next to me doing breastroke with head above water was more or less the same speed as me. BUT taking away the positives i felt i was swimming much better etc and I've done the distance and i feel that some speed can be added in the next few weeks.

and in other stuff.

survived the school shoe shopping experience - thats an ironman in itself!
i did almost see red mist when the lady starts talking low stock in the smaller shoe sizes.(having waiting 30mins!) luckily for all shoes acceptable to my 7yr old did fit which cost a fortune and we exited promptly after paying. a good test of mental endurance!]]>